In January, the European Union reached agreement on a Regulation to replace Directive 91/414/EEC. The Parliament’s decision ended a legislative procedure started thee years ago when the European Commission presented a proposal about the approval process for pesticides. What further losses are in store with this legislation for both the farmers’ pesticide portfolio and European food production?

Food is an essential part of our lives; we simply cannot do without it. However we all have different perceptions and emotions about our food that are influenced by many factors, including our political beliefs, our education, our values.

When using pesticides it is of the utmost importance to take steps to protect the envirnment by avoiding incorrect use or accidental spills which could harm animals, plants and even ecosystems as a whole. Legislation at both European and Member State level requires that the use of a particular product is shown to be environmentally safe by means of testing and evaluation before authorisation is granted. New regulations seek to achieve more sustainable use of pesticides to reduce risks associated with their use, while maintaining the necessary protection against pests.

Pesticides are also used for non-agricultural purposes, such in public spaces, outdoor leisure areas, sport fields, gardens and parks. They're also used in transportation facilities, for instance on railway tracks, hard shoulders and airport runways, on industrial sites, in drainage infrastructure, and of course in the home and garden, in particular in domestic horticulture by non-professional gardeners.

What's a pesticide residue and a Maximum Residue Level (MRL)?

Watch this short webinar for a clear explanation.

Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. With the domestication of animals and plants, agriculture was the key development that led to human civilization. It created food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated societies. Cultivation of crops and the herding of livestock remain at the foundation of agriculture. In the past century a distinction has been made between sustainable agriculture and intensive farming. Modern agronomy, plant breeding, pesticides and fertilizers have sharply increased yields from cultivation.

The official approval process for new pesticide products and technologies in the EU is one of the most stringent in the world. This is in order to ensure that human health and the environment are safeguarded. Before product approval is granted, more than 100 specific tests must be completed. Indeed, the authorisation process for pesticides is at least as stringent as for any other checmical, including medicine.